By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
To get an indication of what Devon Levi is all about as a person and as a teammate, just take a good look at his new mask for the Calder Cup playoffs.
It’s like a scavenger hunt. From the Moose mascot and a few culinary delights on one side, to images of an Amerk Hall of Famer alongside a guy who has never suited up for a professional hockey game on the other, the mask provides a pretty accurate portrayal of his personality.
Then again, Levi’s been at this for a while, so he very much knows the vibe he wants his mask to exude. He created his first design when he was 10, a Team Canada-themed mask, according to his mother, Eta.
In fact, in the family’s home back in suburban Montreal is a wall display with 10 of the masks he has worn throughout his career.
“Sometimes I do a theme, like the helmet I used this year was mostly a Gladiator theme and I have two that are Star Wars themed,” Levi said. “This one I decided to keep Rochester-themed I guess; everything at the rink we laugh about and we talk about.”
Which is why the current iteration came about following a little brainstorming session with his teammates. They’re, after all, at the center of all things hockey with Levi right now. Within a matter of days, the ideas were put to paper and the finished product was soon delivered by Rochester mask design expert Mark Magnanti’s Skinfx Wraps.
“I just wanted funny things with my teammates, things I can look back on years from now,” said Levi, who debuted the new design on April 18 and was wearing it on Sunday when he stopped 35 shots in a 4-0, Game 2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch.
Having a caricature of the Amerk Moose on the right side was a given. The Moose, after all, has been a part of franchise lore for more than 40 years.
But it’s the items in the hands of the Moose (who knew a moose had hands?) that stray from the norm. Tacos in his right hand, bubble tea in the left. Both are Levi staples; neither are team-nutritionist approved.
“We have Taco Tuesday at the rink every week so I had to have that on there,” Levi said. “And the boys and I go for bubble tea a lot – love that stuff.”
On the left side, above a large Amerks crest, is an image of goalie Ryan Miller. He was inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame earlier this month; a pretty good franchise stalwart to feature as the playoffs begin. And Levi was, after all, the narrator for the Miller tribute video on Hall of Fame night.
Next to Miller is an image of Owen “Rusty” Ross. Who, you ask? He’s the Amerks equipment assistant and former goalie for the combined Brighton/East Rochester/Honeoye Falls-Lima high school team. He’s never faced a shot in pro hockey, though he did dress as the emergency backup for the Springfield Thunderbirds last season.
“He put the pads on one day in the shooting room with the boys,” Levi explained. “He’s a legend.”
Since fellow goalies are often a goaltender’s most trusted confidants, Levi made sure to include an image of Sandman from Marvel Comic/Spider-Man fame in honor of Felix Sandstrom, and a cartoon cat playing golf to pay homage to Michael “Housecat” Houser.
On the back of the mask is a drawing of the Rochester area hotel where Levi chose to spend the season. Cryptocurrency is superimposed over the hotel entryways.
“Some of the boys are big into Bitcoin,” he said. “I just wanted to put some funny things on there that give me some good memories looking back on.”
Levi, who was voted Amerks MVP by his teammates, will be back in goal on Thursday night when the Amerks look to clinch – and the Crunch look to stay alive. Puck drop for Game 3 of the best-of-five North Division semifinals is at 7 p.m. at Upstate Medical Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial.
Amerks update
Defenseman Vsevolod Komarov won’t play this week due to the injury suffered in a fight with Jack Finley in Game 2. Komarov quite obviously is in concussion protocol.
Erik Brannstrom, a healthy scratch for the first two games, will take his place. Veteran defenseman Ethan Prow likely won’t be able to play again this season, regardless of how far the Amerks go, because of a hand injury suffered in Game 71 of the regular season.
Forward Anton Wahlberg, who missed the first two games due to what the team said was illness, will be in the Game 3 lineup, coach Michael Leone said.
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